Liverpool risks losing its world heritage status

Liverpool’s historic waterfront could be at risk of losing its highly-coveted World Heritage Site status after its mayor has rejected a plea by UN cultural chiefs to halt development in the city.

World heritage body Unesco has recommended placing a two-year moratorium on any new development within the city’s World Heritage Site and its “buffer zone”, which includes much of the city centre.

We can’t place developments in large parts of the city centre on hold as it would send out completely the wrong message to investors, cost jobs and leave us open to expensive legal challenges by developers.

Liverpool City Council

Officials have also warned that Liverpool’s waterfront, whose buildings – including the Three Graces – inspired the creation of the Bund in Shanghai, could lose its highly-prized heritage site status if it fails to comply.

But the city’s mayor Joe Anderson has warned that heritage status cannot “stifle” growth in Liverpool. The city council says Unesco’s recommendation, if implemented, would put at risk millions of pounds of investment and jobs.

Mr Anderson said: “I’m writing to Unesco to say we cannot comply with their request. We value the heritage status, but we can’t let it stifle the growth in our city.”

Historic

Liverpool earned its World Heritage Site status from Unesco in 2004 in honour of its historic importance to the growth of the British Empire and European emigration to the US.

The city on the River Mersey also played a darker role at the centre of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

But the waterfront was placed on a list of World Heritage Sites in danger in 2012 due to proposals to redevelop the historic docklands.

Heritage campaigners recently went to court in a fight to stop the demolition of 10 historic buildings near Liverpool Lime Street Station in the World Heritage Site “buffer zone”.

At risk

Liverpool City Council says the number of historic buildings at risk of being lost is at a 25-year low and Historic England says the city is an example of best practice nationally.

It says that Unesco’s recommendation could send out a message that Liverpool has “shut up shop”.

A spokesman said: “Liverpool remains open for business and all planning applications will continue to be determined in the usual way in line with national planning policies and guidance.

“We can’t place developments in large parts of the city centre on hold as it would send out completely the wrong message to investors, cost jobs and leave us open to expensive legal challenges by developers.

“We are working with the Government, who make representations on behalf of World Heritage Sites at the Unesco committee, to look at how best to resolve the situation.”

Liverpool’s World Heritage Site

Liverpool’s World Heritage Site includes six areas of the city and most of its landmarks including the Pier Head and the Albert Dock.

On the Pier Head stand the Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building, which collectively are known as they Three Graces.

They were built as a testament to the city’s great wealth as a trading port in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Unesco says in its citation that Liverpool is the “supreme example” of a commercial port at the time of Britain’s “greatest global influence”.

iNews

https://inews.co.uk

The i newsletter

News for open-minded people. Delivered straight to your inbox.

Email address:

By entering your email address and clicking on the sign up button, you are agreeing to receive the latest daily news, news features and service updates from the i via email. You can unsubscribe at any time and we will not pass on your information.

We know that sometimes it’s easier for us to come to you with the news. That's why our new email newsletter will deliver a mobile-friendly snapshot of inews.co.uk to your inbox every morning, from Monday to Saturday.

This will feature the stories you need to know, as well as a curated selection of the best reads from across the site. Of course, you can easily opt out at any time, but we're confident that you won't.

Oliver Duff, Editor

By entering your email address and clicking on the sign up button below, you are agreeing to receive the latest daily news, news features and service updates from the i via email. You can unsubscribe at any time and we will not pass on your information.

By entering your email address and clicking on the sign up button, you are agreeing to receive the latest daily news, news features and service updates from the i via email. You can unsubscribe at any time and we will not pass on your information.